Inquest hears man was drunk in Ferryhill BP garage crash

Lewis Smith was driving a white Ford Ka with Beth Coster, 25, in the passenger seat after they'd been out drinking with friends at Blakes Bar in Newton Aycliffe on Halloween last year. An inquest on Monday (March 9) heard Lewis, 33, was more than twice the drink drive limit when he lost control and crashed off the A167 into the Dean Road BP garage around 1.40am the next morning. Floral tributes at the scene. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

The pair were removed from the car, and CPR was carried out in a frantic bid to save their lives, but both were pronounced dead a short time later. Police closed off the garage for a number of hours after the crash, while a number of floral tributes were placed at the scene from loved ones. Crook Coroners' Court was shown CCTV of the Ka striking an island nearby on Curlew Way seconds before veering off the road and ploughing into the forecourt.

Forensic crash investigator Madeline Davies Luke, told the inquest the speed the car was travelling at could not be confirmed. She added: "[The car] clipped the edges of the traffic island, then continued travelling down the road. Where it left the road, it collided with a wall.

"There were no conditions on the road [that would have caused the crash] - the road was damp, but not particularly wet. "It would just be a loss of control. "The collision with the joist by the fuel pump [stopped the car].

It brought it to an almost immediate stop. Lewis Smith, 33. (Image: DURHAM POLICE) "It was a very sudden stop."

A toxicologist found Beth, an office worker, and Lewis both enough alcohol in their systems they would have been least two and a half times over the limit, but Beth was not at the wheel. Lewis had 200mg of alcohol in his system which would have caused "notable drunkenness and significantly impaired judgement" - the legal driving limit is 80mg. Post-mortem examinations carried out by Dr Louise Mulcahy gave Lewis' cause of death as head and chest injuries.

The pathologist stated Beth died of head injuries. Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield concluded Beth and Lewis died as a result of a road traffic collision. He said: "The car struck the curb of a traffic island and continued along the road across the oncoming lane and entered the service station forecourt where it collided with a petrol pump joist.

The wall, which was damaged in the crash. (Image: Stuart Boulton) "In this collision, Beth and Lewis sustained injuries which were unsurvivable, and they died at the scene. "I am so sorry for your loss."

Following his death, Lewis' family paid tribute to him, saying: "Each and every one of us feel like there is a part of us missing. "Lewis was a kind, caring, considerate and funny person. "He saw the best in everyone and was always there for those who knew him.

He made such an impact on the people that he met. "This accident has had such an impact on those who were lucky enough to get the pleasure of knowing Lewis, each and every one of us feels like there is a part of us missing." His grandmother added: "He was always my baby, and always will be.

I truly feel like a part of me has been ripped away.

Thank you for being in my life, I will always love you my perfect boy."